Project Management: The Reflective Practioner

I have just returned from my second lecture for the semester (I am completing my Maters). We are studying philosophy in Management and looking are relativism, existentialism etc.

Fundamentally, neo-pragmatic existentialism (relativism) is contrasted with platonic (scientific) thinking.

There are enormous implications of these philosophies on behavior within organizations. The relativist is in danger of being changed by his or her environment unless they have a clearly defined and articulated set of core values (which infers that relativism is only partly correct and that there are in fact absolutes).

Upon reflection of tonight’s class:

We are to be “catalysts” or agents of change – we change the environment without those elements of our ‘self’ or our ‘absolute values’ .being changed. These things should include a virtuous value set that we aspire to be such as integrity, loyalty, care and respect, loyalty. Importantly, it may also include our set of fundamental (core) beliefs that we hold as unchangeable (assumptions and understanding regarding faith and worldview).

We must accept that there are elements of self and beliefs that will change in the ‘light’ of new information, knowledge and understanding. We must be willing to surrender our basic

We must become Reflective Practitioners’, and establish our own "Centres of Excellence" – regualrly reviewing ouselves, our practice and consistently improving the way we practice all elements of our professions.

We can be proactive in establishing patterns of behaviors for the way that we operate. Ground rules for managing the Project, being up-front and stating your beliefs (eg. I don’t drink alcohol) can help guard against compromise.